The Passion Translation of this verse says, “For your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder Him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.” There is a conflict between our born-again spirit and our old nature of the flesh.
The reality is the one we feed the most is the one that’s going to dominate our lives! When we give ourselves to meditating on the Word of God, spending time in biblical prayer, and worshiping the Lord – our spirit-man is given the place to dominate the way we think, speak, and live. Suddenly, the old sinful cravings and pull to the things of the world completely subside in comparison to the life and joy and peace we are experiencing from our spirit-man being in charge.
We can bring our flesh into subjection to the life of the Spirit every day by continually turning our affection and attention to things that relate to the kingdom of God. Practice being sensitive to the Spirit of God within you, He will remind you of the Word you have placed in your heart and guide you to establish His kingdom way of life everywhere you go!